Skip to content

Chicago, IL

No local rankings yet · editorial below

Nobody’s claimed this yet

Be the first local to put Dive Bars in Chicago on the map. Your Top 5 anchors the City Consensus for everyone who comes next.

Start a Top 5 for Dive Bars

Editor’s picks

Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Time Out Chicago. Updated June 2026.

Old Town Ale House · Old Town
A storied late-night institution across from Second City, walls covered in original paintings.
Rossi's · River North
A no-frills River North classic for a cheap, strong, fast pour.
L & L Tavern · Lakeview
A narrow Clark Street dive with a deep whiskey list and serious regulars.
Rose's Lounge · Lincoln Park
A kitschy, cash-friendly Lincoln Park hangout packed with bric-a-brac and cheap beer.